Srinagar, Jan 04: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to virtually inaugurate the newly created Jammu Railways Division on January 6. The event will be attended by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of State in the PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in Jammu.
A Railways spokesperson told Rising Kashmir that the inauguration of the Jammu Railways Division by Prime Minister Modi marks a significant milestone in enhancing connectivity and boosting development in the region. He added, “The function will be attended by Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister of State in the PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh.”
Jammu was granted a dedicated Railways Division ahead of the anticipated launch of train services to the Valley. Currently, train services operate between Baramulla and Sangaldan, and between Katra. “With the Katra-Sangaldan track now ready, trains from across the country will soon extend to Baramulla, following necessary clearances from Railways and security officials,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the first trial train on the Katra-Banihal section successfully ran on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project. The trial, which included passing over engineering marvels such as the Anji Khad Bridge and the Chenab Arch Bridge, sets the stage for the commencement of rail services to Kashmir.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of USBRL, Sandeep Gupta stated that the trial was a big success and was conducted under strict safety protocols to prepare for statutory inspections scheduled for January 7 and 8. “The train operated at a speed of 75 km/h during this trial. The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) will conduct inspections at a higher speed of 110 km/h. The CRS report, expected by January 8, will guide the final decision on launching train services to the Kashmir Valley,” Gupta said. He also mentioned that the successful trial thrilled passengers onboard, with the train reaching Banihal railway station around 1:30 PM.
The long-awaited Srinagar-Katra train is expected to begin operations after January 20, connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country through the Indian railway network. “All preparations have been completed, and the successful trial runs have paved the way for the train’s launch,” officials confirmed. “We are now ready to operationalize the Katra-Srinagar train link.”
On Friday, Northern Railways also released the train schedules for the Katra-Srinagar route. The Vande Bharat Express will depart from Katra at 8:10 AM, arriving in Srinagar at 11:20 AM. The Mail Express will operate two daily services from Katra to Srinagar, departing at 9:50 AM and 3:00 PM, with arrival times at 1:10 PM and 6:20 PM, respectively.
For the return journey, the Mail Express will leave Srinagar at 8:55 AM, reaching Katra at 12:05 PM. The Vande Bharat Express will depart from Srinagar at 12:45 PM, arriving in Katra at 3:55 PM. Another Mail Express service will leave Srinagar at 3:10 PM, completing its journey by 6:30 PM.
